2 Charged With Holding Man Hostage for 4 Days in His Home

Two men were in custody Saturday night after they allegedly held a man hostage for four days in his own house, authorities said.

Both men, whom neighbors said may have been roommates or acquaintances of the victim, were being held on one count of false imprisonment. In addition one of the men faced a count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, a Ventura County Jail spokeswoman said. Bail for each was set at $5,000.

The incident was reported late Saturday afternoon when an unidentified woman called police to say that her neighbor had told her he had been held inside his house in the 400 block of Coronado Street for the past four days by a man with a gun, authorities said.

Authorities said the neighbor told the woman that he had been held at gunpoint and that men occupying his house were armed.

Soon after, the man showed up in the lobby of the Ventura Police Station and told police about his ordeal. Two men were still inside his house and at least one of them had a gun, he said.

Police surrounded the house and at about 5:25 p.m. and after about 10 minutes officers came out of the house with two men in custody.

Ventura Police Sgt. Gerry Thurston said the incident was being investigated as a false imprisonment. Authorities found at least one handgun inside the house, Thurston said.

Police also questioned a woman whom they found inside the house, but she was not taken into custody.